Khairpur Nathan Shah goes under water

Town loses contact with all small and major cities

DADU:

One of the major towns of Dadu district, Khairpur Nathan Shah, known as KN Shah, has been deluged after a week the torrential rains stopped in the province. Over 95% of citizens of around 250,000 people have been evacuated since the rainwater entered the town.

The city located on the National Highway is disconnected from all small and major cities, including Mehar, Dadu and Larkana. Officials told The Express Tribune that they tried their best to save the city but failed to secure the people of taluka headquarters and surrounding villages.

"The breech in Khuda Abad wah inundated the city on Tuesday," confirmed Assistant Commissioner, Sona Khan Chandio. He claimed that all resources were being used to evacuate the stranded residents in the city and suburbs. He said that the government had already informed the people to leave the city. "They were not willing to move out of their homes and town despite warning," he mentioned. "Now, they are coming to us requesting to save their stranded families," he added. "The government has deluged us," alleged Sajjad Naich, a resident of Mohammad Yousuf Naich village. "We knew they wanted us to be submerged," he added

The helpless families either have left for Hyderabad or Karachi or have taken refuge on both sides of the highway.

The families unwilling to leave their homes are calling their contacts to send boats so that they could move out as water level is rising.

Pakistan Navy, Edhi Foundation and other organisations have reached the area and started evacuating people. Despite their presence, the residents cried that the rescue operation was slow and were not efficiently rescuing the families. "How could we leave our homes," questioned Nusrat, a resident who was taken to the highway from her village near the town. "They had brought us leaving our animals behind," she said with tears in her eyes.

Not only rescue agencies but private boats have also reached the area extending all possible help to people.

"The private boats are charging Rs300 for each person," said Abdul Shakoor who along with his wife and a year old son reached the safe place. "Everything is under water now," he explained.

Sajjad told The Express Tribune that the town was submerged first time in 1942 and then in 2010. "It is the third time we are under water," he said. "We are facing this kind of disaster in just ten years. We are still paying the price of the last floods. It is enough now," he showed his anger.

Speaking to The Express Tribune SSP Dadu Irfan Samoon said that 98 per cent evacuation has been completed. "We are providing boats to the stranded families," he said, adding that the whole city was under water. "It is just like an ocean," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2022.